Class Scyphozoa
Order Semaeostomae
Chrysaora colorata (Russell, 1964)
Phylum Cnidaria, Class Scyphozoa, Order Semaeostomeae, Family Pelagiidae
Large medusa 70 cm diameter, pale with distinctive dark markings on bell and margin. Unpleasant sting.
Can be common but does not form large aggregations; pelagic; specimens encountered just offshore from kelp forests are often damaged. Late stage larvae & juveniles of the crab Cancer gracilis frequently live on bell & oral arms prior to taking up their more typical benthic existence.
Geogr. Range: central California to southern California
Synonyms: Pelagia colorata
Similar species: C. colorata often misidentified as Chrysaora noctiluca which is a southern, warm water spp.
Chrysaora fuscescens Brandt, 1835
Phylum Cnidaria, Class Scyphozoa, Order Semaeostomeae, Family Pelagiidae
Large medusa 30 cm diameter; bell yellow-brown to reddish brown with 24 dark tentacles around margin. Oral arms long & folded, dark with white/clear frills. Unpleasant sting.
Can form large aggregations, especially late summer through winter; pelagic offshore from kelp forests. Late stage larvae & juveniles of the crab Cancer gracilis frequently live on bell & oral arms.
Geogr. Range: Alaska to Baja.
Synonyms: Chrysaora helvola, C. gilberti
Similar species: often misidentified as Chrysaora melanaster.
Phacellophora camtschatica Brandt, 1835
Phylum Cnidaria, Class Scyphozoa, Order Semaeostomeae, Family Ulmaridae
Large medusa 60 cm diameter; clear to yellowish bell with central yellow gonads; 16 clusters of tentacles, 16 sensory rhopalia around margin of bell; small individuals often with milky white bell. Oral arms short & highly folded. Pale whitish bell with central yellow gonad mass said to resemble a fried egg. Mild sting.
Does not usually form large aggregations; primarily pelagic, offshore from kelp forests.
Geogr. Range: Kamchatka to Alaska & south to Chile.
Synonyms:
Similar species:
Aurelia labiata Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821
Phylum Cnidaria, Class Scyphozoa, Order Semaeostomeae, Family Ulmaridae
Shallow bell to 40 cm fringed with many fine tentacles; 4 short oral arms; opaque white, usually with 4 horseshoe-shaped gonads visible. Very mild sting.
May form dense aggregations (late summer / autumn), pelagic offshore from kelp forests.
Geogr. Range: Oregon to central California
Synonyms:
Similar species: often misidentified as the non-native Aurelia aurita.